Van Gaal is losing the game and the press conference

Sir Alex Ferguson used to say that even if you lost a game it was important to win the press conference. But Van Gaal isn’t giving the fans anything to cling on to when he talks after a game.

In front of the cameras after the defeat to Southampton he looked like a man who doesn’t know how to turn things around. Some fans will argue that after watching the same style of football for 18 months, Van Gaal doesn’t know anything else.

Watch Van Gaal's Southampton press conference

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Old Trafford has turned

It takes a lot for match-going United fans to turn on their manager. But the majority have had enough. United were booed off at half-time and full-time and afterwards Louis van Gaal was forced to admit it was the most hostile reception he has experienced at Old Trafford.

When the football is poor and results aren’t much better, it’s a deadly combination for a manager who’s already under severe pressure.

Why did Januzaj stay on the bench?

Adnan Januzaj returned from Borussia Dortmund because he wasn’t getting enough games. But when United needed a goal against Southampton he stayed on the bench until the 85th minute.

He scored twice for the Under-21s on Monday night. But when he finally came on against Southampton it was as a left wing-back after he had replaced Cameron Borthwick-Jackson. Even then he had United’s best effort at goal when he flashed a late shot wide.

It’s not something that can be solved in the transfer window

It’s January, so it’s easy to look at the transfer market as the answer to at least some of the problems. It’s true that the squad is in need of improvement. But the issues at the moment run deeper than that.

The way Van Gaal sets up his teams makes them hard to beat but it doesn’t lend itself to creativity. It means they’re always in with a chance against big teams who want to attack but struggle against teams who are happy to sit back and make the most of a counter attack or a set piece.

Woodward and the Glazers have got a decision to make

Whether they want to keep Van Gaal as their manager or not, they have a decision to make. David Moyes was sacked when it became mathematically impossible to finish in the top four.

United are not there yet but, on current form, they won't be playing Champions League football next season. It is up to Woodward and the owners to decide whether they want to run that risk.